‘Macy’s 4th Of July Fireworks’ Ratings Revealed: Did They Soar or Fizzle Out?

Martin Holmes July 6, 2026, 7:44 am

Blake Shelton performs at Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks — Maarten de Boer/NBC via Getty Images; Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

What To Know

The 50th Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks special drew its highest audience since 2018.
Viewership increased significantly compared to previous years, with a 59% rise in total viewers and a 96% jump in the 18-49 demo.
The event featured performances by Blake Shelton, Post Malone, Salt-N-Pepa, and more.

The 50th edition of the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks delivered strong ratings over the weekend, with the likes of Blake Shelton, Post Malone, and Salt-N-Pepa performing at the star-studded event.

According to NBC, citing preliminary Nielsen data, the show reached 11.2 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo. This is the largest viewership for the Fourth of July Fireworks since 2018, when it only aired on NBC. This year’s event coincided with America’s 250th anniversary.

NBC didn’t release numbers for last year’s special, which was simulcast on Telemundo for the first time. However, the network reports that viewership was up 59 percent among total viewers and 96 percent in the 18-49 demographic from 2025, putting last year’s average around 7 million.

The special’s first airing was at 8 pm on NBC, averaging 5.1 million viewers, up 42 percent from 2025. The show was then rebroadcast on NBC at 10 pm and then again at 11:30 PM, with those numbers adding to the cumulative viewership. On Peacock, the special was up 140 percent compared to last year, per NBC.

In addition to Shelton, Malone, and Salt-N-Pepa, the Fourth of July Fireworks special featured performances by Noah Kahan, Bebe Rexha, and Shaboozey. There was also a laser show from the Brooklyn Bridge, incorporating more than 85,000 shells in 30 vibrant colors.

How to Watch 2026 Macy's 4th of July Fireworks on TV

The fireworks show itself featured a 27-minute score composed by Grammy winner Jason Howland and vocals from The Voice Season 29 winner Alexia Jayy. According to NBC, the music was inspired “by the enduring spirit of America” with “the iconic sounds of more than 50 years of beloved summer classics.”

“Serving as the emotional heartbeat of the pyrotechnic display, the score, designed in perfect harmony with stage lighting and lasers, will set the tone for a powerful and unforgettable celebration,” the official description read.

The event was produced for NBC by Jesse Collins Entertainment with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay executive producing, and with Macy’s Studios and Universal Television.